IT Security Salaries Rising Fast, U.K. Study Says

Strong demand for security workers in Great Britain has driven salaries much higher during the past two years, according to a U.K. study.

The study, conducted by U.K. recruitment firm Acumin Consulting, was summarized in a news report yesterday.

The survey found that midranking technical workers in the areas of consultancy, end-user troubleshooting, and service provision are the most needed and best paid, according to the report.

Average annual salaries for these workers have risen by approximately $8,000 to $14,000 during the past two years; information security and risk managers at end-user firms can now expect to earn about $84,000, up from about $70,000 in 2008, the report states.

"We are now seeing genuine, long-term growth and an urgent need to get staff on board," said Chris Batten, managing director of Acumin Consulting, in the news report.

The situation is different at public-sector firms, where some salaries have actually dropped as a result of fears about government cutbacks, the report says. "Our most recent survey shows that recruitment for information security consultants is seeing a revival. However, as the public sector cuts take effect, the rise in pay is not being experienced across the board," Batten said. "It is evident that smaller organizations are really starting to see increasing value from investing in security."

The security workers most in demand have good communication and managerial skills, as well as experience in security applications and managing risk, according to the recruitment firm.

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